Today, Intel has released seven new Sandy Bridge based CPUs: three Core i5 and four Celeron models. All the i5 SKUs are desktop models, whereas the Celeron SKUs are mobile: two standard voltage and two ultra-low voltage models. Below is a table of the new SKUs.

Specifications of New Intel CPUs (1/30/2012)

SKU

Core/Thread Count

Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency

L3 Cache

TDP

Price

Core i5-2550K

4/4

3.4GHz

3.8GHz

6MB

95W

$225

Core i5-2450P

4/4

3.2GHz

3.5GHz

6MB

95W

$195

Core i5-2380P

4/4

3.1GHz

3.4GHz

6MB

95W

$177

Celeron B815

2/2

1.6GHz

N/A

2MB

35W

$86

Celeron B720

1/1

1.7GHz

N/A

1MB

35W

$70

Celeron 867

2/2

1.3GHz

N/A

2MB

17W

$134

Celeron 797

1/1

1.4GHz

N/A

1MB

17W

$107

You may be wondering what the P at the end of two Core i5 SKUs stands for. Intel has not updated their product database yet so we aren't 100% sure, but VR-Zone is reporting that it implies a GPU-less model. VR-Zone is also stating that the i5-2550K is GPU-less as well, which would be a step down from the i5-2500K that features Intel HD 3000 graphics.

This is a logical move as Intel must have a stack of chips with fully working cores and other parts, but the IGP isn't functional. On the other hand, it's good to keep in mind that a disabled IGP means no Quick Sync. Since the price and specification differences between the models with IGP and the models without is so small, we recommend buying a model with the graphics as you never know when you might want/need Quick Sync or more video outputs. The 100MHz increase in frequency isn't worth the loss of the IGP.

As for the CPUs in general, i5-2550K is obviously the successor of i5-2500K. It has 100MHz (i.e. one CPU bin) higher frequencies than i5-2500K and is priced $9 higher. Similarly, i5-2450P and i5-2380P are successors of i5-2400 and i5-2320—the i5-2450P being $11 more expensive and i5-2380P being priced the same as its predecessor. Celeron B815 replaces B810 at the $86 price point; they share the same core specs while the GPU gets a bump in maximum clock from 950MHz to 1050MHz. Meanwhile, B720 succeeds B710 with 100MHz higher frequency and the same $70 price tag. Celeron 867 becomes the new high-end ULV Celeron by taking the place of 857 at the price point of $134 with 100MHz higher frequency, and 797 increases the frequency by 100MHz to 1.4GHz in the $107 category and replaces 787.

That specific model in the picture is only sold separately as it's for LGA 1156/1155. Your friend most likely has E75476-001, which is the stock cooler for LGA 1366 CPUs released after i7-980X (it was the first one to get it). They look almost identical though, only the motherboard connectors are a bit different :-)Reply

Having installed a bunch of Scythe coolers which use pushpins, I've never had a problem with them, and installation has usually been quite simple.Don't see the reason for the complaints - unless you live a in a region prone to earthquakes.Reply

Those plastic pushpins arent that hard to deal with, if you know what you are doing you can easily install and uninstall one several times. However holding a large and heavy heatsink I would prefer metal, but honestly I dont get why everyone has such a hard time with the plastic push pin mounts. Reply